Avandia, or rosiglitazone, is a diabetes medication prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes, also known as “adult-onset” diabetes or “non-insulin dependent” diabetes. Avandia is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline and has been available since 1999, when it was approved by the FDA. Although Avandia may be used in combination with insulin or other medications, Avandia should not be taken by patients with type 1 diabetes or patients who are less than 18 years old. 

How Avandia Works

Avandia is a member of the thiazolidinedione class of diabetes drugs that work to reduce high blood sugar levels by increasing the body’s insulin sensitivity. People with type 2 diabetes have high blood sugar levels because their bodies do not respond to insulin, a hormone released by the pancreas that helps glucose move out of the blood and into the cells in the body, where the glucose can be used as energy and nourishment.

Often referred to as an “insulin sensitizer,” Avandia attaches to insulin receptors on cells throughout the body, causing the cells to become more responsive to insulin and thus absorb glucose from the blood stream. By reducing the amount of sugar in the bloodstream, Avandia may help people with diabetes avoid several health problems related to diabetes, such as:

  • blindness
  • heart disease
  • kidney failure
  • stroke

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Avandia Safety Concerns

Recently, diabetes medications, such as Avandia, have been linked to various serious side effects, including swelling and weight gain that can lead to heart failure. Additionally, some studies have associated Avandia with an increased risk of heart attack. In fact, in a study published in September 2007, Avandia approximately doubled the risk of heart failure and increased the risk of heart attack by more than 40 percent. In rare cases, Avandia may also cause potentially life-threatening liver problems.

Today, Avandia carries a black box warning, which is the most serious safety warning, cautioning that the diabetes drug may cause or worsen heart failure and may potentially increase the risk of heart attack. If you or a loved one took a diabetes medication, such as Avandia, and suffered from heart complications, bone fracture, or any other serious injury associated with diabetes medications, you may be eligible for compensation and should contact us immediately.